Seal press



C. PRIESMEYER Sept. 5, 1961 SEAL PRESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22,1957 R E Y E M S E R P S E L R A H C atet Patented Sept. 5, 1961 norsFiled Oct. 22, 1957, Ser. No. 691,646 6 Claims. (Cl. 101--3) The presentinvention relates to seal presses and more particularly to a die supportand frame assembly for seal presses used by corporations, governmentagencies, notaries public and professional people. The present inventionis an improvement upon my previous applications, application Serial No.490,336, now U.S. Patent No. 2,937,590, and Patent No. 2,706,448,reference to which is hereby made.

Not only in oflices Where a number of paper embossing seals are kept butalso in seal selling and servicing shops, it is highly desirable to havea seal press which readily utilizes any one of a number of die supportsof different sizes and shapes. In ofiices several dies can be stored insmall spaces for safe keeping and operated interchangeably in a singlepress frame. In supply shops, it is only necessary to inventory a singletype frame and a wide range of seal presses having different dies can besupplied or interchanged quite rapidly. This can be done also in thefield without need for returning any parts to the factory for use ofprecision instruments to provide proper die orientation and location ofpoints of pressure application.

The present invention is characterized by building into readilyremovable die carriers the mechanism for properly locating them for theproper application of working pressures for each die of diiferent sizesfor the purpose of interchangeable use in a single size seal press framewhich delivers an embossing pressure over a predetermined area.

The invention is also characterized by a frame and die supportconstruction and arrangement in which the die support is indexed inproper working position by readily disengageable elements through whichthe embossing pressure is transmitted.

An object of the invention is to provide a die support and pressureframe assembly in which the die support is capable of shifting to adjustits position with respect to the frame within limits determined by theelement by which the embossing pressure is transmitted.

Another object of the invention is to apply an embossing pressure todies through a rolling member which engages a self-opening die supportin latching relationship whereby the engagement is maintained for properoperation at all times yet may be quickly released merely by momentarilymoving the die support towards its closed position away from saidrolling member.

The invention is further characterized by an arrangement wherein a diesupport may be inserted intolatch arrangement over a roller latch evenwhen the die support is not in closed position and will assume itsworking relationship and carry all cooperating parts into theircooperating positions.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel relationship of partswhich are easily made, assembled, operated and repaired and which arereadily interchangeable and ruggedly constructed for long andsatisfactory operation.

These being among the objects of the invention, further objects andadvantages will become apparent from the drawing, and the descriptionsrelating thereto, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pocket sealembodying the preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the assembly of the two majorcomponents of the pocket seal shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side elevations partially in section showing twopositions of the component parts;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 55 in FIG. 2, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention asembodied in two elements of the pocket seal shown in in FIG. 1.

Generally, the invention contemplates a unitary assembly for the upperand lower dies with the supporting elements including a spring disposedto normally separate the dies. The unitary assembly is readily installedin a throated two-sided press frame having a handle or lever carrying aroller operable to close the dies and apply embossing pressure thereon.The upper die has a saddle member thereon engaging the roller inlatching relationship as disposed between the side frames through theirworking movement as urged to maintain such engagement under the dieopening effort of the spring. The dies are supported against turning inthe frame by the spring extending far enough to be disposed also betweenthe side frames at all times. Except for the latching interlock betweenthe saddle and the roller, the unitary as sembly is free to move in thepress frame and rests in supported relation on the bottom side of thethroat opposite to the roller so that a single frame can receive any oneof a number of dies of various sizes in proper working positioninterchangeably as located solely by said latching relationship.

Referring now to the drawings in further detail the frame 10 disclosedfor embodying the preferred form of the invention comprises a flatstamping die formed to the U-shaped cross section shown wherein thesides 11 are parallel. The external convex surface of the roundedportion of the U-section provides a handle 12 with the rear end drawndownwardly as at 13 when die is formed so as to stress the stamping inmore directions than one to make it rugged an easy to handle.

At the front end of the frame 10 the sides 11 are notched out as at 14to form anoverhanging arm 15 and a lower arm :16 whose facing edges 17and 18 respectively, and particularly 18, are smooth and straight over amajor portion of their length at their outer ends. The two sides of theoverhanging arm 15 are riveted together by a spacer rivet 20 whichrigidifies and maintains the sides in exact spaced relationship. Otherrivets may also be used if desired.

A handle 21 is pivotally mounted on the rivet 20 to move between theside frames. The handle is also a heavy sheet metal stamping die formedto a U-shaped cross section and rounded and embossed in both directionalong its upper extremity to fit comfortably in the palm of a personshand. At its front end as shown in FIG. 3 the sides are notched as at 22to provide stop shoulders which engage a second rivet -23 to limitupward movement of the handle. A latch (not shown) may be provided tohold the handle in closed position, but since its particular form is notimportant such is not shown here in order to simplify the drawing. Sucha latch is shown in Patent No. 2,706,447.

Between the sides of the handle 21 at its front end the handle carries aroller 25 journalled on a transversely disposed pin 26. The location ofthis roller is slightly to the rear of the rivet 20 and above the levelthereof when in resting position so that downward movement of the handle21 drives the roller arcuately downwardly with very little horizontalmotion imparted thereto. In this connection it is to be noted thatpreferably the lowermost extremity of the roller remains at all timesabove the level of the edge 17.

The unitary die assembly 30 which is received between the roller 25 andedge 18 comprises a lower die support 31 stamped from heavy stock toprovide the inner end portion 32 with parallel sides and preferably bentat 33 and perforated at 34 as shown in FIG. 3. The front end thereof isrounded as at 35 to receive in supported relationship the lower die 36,and to rest upon the edges 18 of the lower arm 16 in supportedrelationship therealong. Riveted to the rear end 33 of the lower dieholder 31 as by rivets 37 is a substantially flat spring blade 38 whosefront end 40 is perforated as at 41 (FIG. to receive the shank 42 of aheaded member 43, which is peened over as at 44 to support a diereceiving cup 45 whose construction is more particularly described insaid applications, and in which the upper die 46 is received insupported relationship in proper orientation with the lower die. Theupper end 47 of the headed member 43 is notched out to provide a saddle48 with the front edge 50 preferably higher than the back edge 51. Thesaddle notch extends transversely with respect to the spring 38 and isadapted to receive the roller 25 therein with a rolling engagementbetween the front and back edges.

When in place, the front and back edges limit inward and outwardmovement of the unitary die assembly with respect to the roller whileengaged therewith and this engagement is maintained under workingconditions by the set in the spring 38 which urges the upper die andheaded member upwardly.

The spring 38 and the rear 32 of the lower die support 31 are of a widthslightly less than the distance between the two upper arms 11. Moreover,the height of the headed member 43 is sufficient to extend above theedges 17 and to be guided by the sides 11 to maintain cooperativecontact with the roller 25 throughout its movement.

Thus when the unitary die assembly is in working position the bottom diesupport rests upon edges 18; the spring 38 cooperates with the sides 11to maintain lateral orientation in the seal press frame; and, theworking engagement between the roller 25 and saddle 48 is maintained asalready mentioned.

To establish this relationship, the die ends of the unitary die assemblyare finger pressed towards each other and slipped longitudinally intothe throat 14 and then released (FIG. 2). The handle being free to movepermits this movement and when released, the saddle engages the rollerand forces the handle upwardly, it being appreciated that the rollerrolls over the edge 51 if interference is experienced.

Then whenever the unitary assembly is to be removed, the die ends areagain finger pressed towards each other and drawn outwardly, the rollerbeing free with sufficient idling motion to clear the saddle edge 51'.

An arrangement is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the sides 11 are not dependedupon to maintain engagement between the roller and saddle. Herein theroller 25a is shaped as a spool and the headed member 43acorrespondingly shaped on its sides to be disposed between the flanges25b on the spool for the purpose mentioned.

Thus a seal press is provided which is so simple and easy to handle thatwhen the frame is held by gravity the die assembly can be removed withone hand.

Consequently it will be observed how the objects set forth areaccomplished, and how various and further changes can be made toaccomplish the purposes of the invention, the scope of which iscommensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a seal press, a U-shaped frame having two sides forming a handgrip and notched out to provide a lower arm having upwardly facing edgesthat are parallel with each other and an upper arm having sides definingupper edges spaced from said lower edges, a handle pivotally mountedbetween the sides of the upper arm, a roller, means in said handlerotatably supporting the roller above said upper edges and slightlyabove the level of the pivotal mount when in resting position, a unitarydie holder assembly comprising a lower die support and an upper diesupport interconnected to carry dies in cooperating relationship, one ofsaid supports being an elongated spring urging separation of the dies, aboss carried by the upper die support and receivable between the sidesof the upper arm, said boss being offset in a vertical direction on theupper face to provide a saddle notch receiving said roller in releasablelatching relationship under the influence of said spring to locate andcenter said unitary die holder assembly perpendicularly under saidroller in Working position, said supports being restrained againstlateral movement when received between the two sides of the frame at theinner extremity of the notch but freely movable vertically andlongitudinally within predetermined limits when the roller is receivedin the saddle notch, said cooperating roller and saddle notchconstituting the pressure transmitting means and sole means forreleasably latching the unitary die holder in the frame.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said offset on theupper face of said boss comprises an upwardly extending shoulder at therear of said boss defining a working area in part thereof and engagingsaid roller in releasable latching relationship to locate said unitarydie assembly with said working area in engagement with said roller.

3. In a seal press, a frame having two sides throated to provide a lowerarm having parallel uninterrupted edges defining a bed and an upper armhaving overhanging edges spaced from said parallel edges, a handlepivotally mounted between the sides of the upper arm, a roller, meansrotatably supporting said roller on said handle above said overhangingedges for movement through an arcuate path disposed substantiallyvertically, a unitary die assembly comprising a lower die supportreceivable on said bed and an upper die support, said supports beingconnected to carry the dies in cooperating relationship, one of saidsupports being an elongated spring urging the separation of the dies, aboss carried by the upper die support and receivable between the sidesof the upper arm, said boss having upwardly extending shoulders defininga notch therebetween engaging said roller in releasable latchingrelationship under the influence of said spring to locate said unitarydie assembly perpendicularly under said roller for movement therewith insaid path during operation, said unitary die assembly being restrainedagainst lateral movement when the supports are received between the twosides of the frame at the inner extremity of the throat but freelymovable vertically and longitudinally within predetermined limits whenthe roller is received in the notch, said cooperating roller and notchconstituting the pressure transmitting means and sole means forreleasably latching the unitary die assembly in the frame.

4. In a seal press having a unitary die holder assembly including twodies and interconnected elongated die supporting elements one of whichis a spring urging separation of the dies, a two-sided press framethroated to provide upper and lower supports for receiving the unitaryassembly on the lower support with the elongated supporting elementsfreely received between the sides in longitudinally and verticallyguided relationship, and a lever handle carried by the frame above saidthroat for operating the dies and having a portion which moves in adirection substantially normal to said lower support, the combination ofa roller, means for mounting said roller on said handle portion formovement therewith along a path in said direction normal to said lowersupports, and a saddle member on one of the supporting elements receivedupwardly between the sides of the frame and engaging the roller in areleasable latching relationship maintained by said spring to locate andmaintain said dies in alignment with said roller in its pathof movementduring operation of said seal press, said cooperating roller and saddlemember constituting the pressure transmitting means and l a sole meansfor releasably latching the unitary die holder assembly in the frame atthe inner extremity of the threat. 5. In a seal press having a unitarymeans for embossing paper including dies and interconnected die supportsincluding a spring urging separation of the dies, a press frame having athroat defining a lower support and an upper support having spacedwalls, a lever handle element, means for pivoting said handle element onthe frame for movement about predetermined axis disposed above saidthroat for operating the dies, the combination of a first member on saidlever handle element disposed rearwardly of said axis and drivendownwardly by said handle element for transmitting force, a secondmember on said unitary means received upwardly between the walls of theupper support in the path of movement of said first member and driventhereby, one of said members having a convexly rounded contour and theother member having a concavely rounded contour mating therewith inreleasable latching relationship, said first member being adapted toshift the position of said unitary means thereby maintaining aperpendicularity with respect thereto throughout movement of said secondmember thus providing a vertical closing pressure on said unitary means6 in all positions during operation, said die supports being restrainedagainst lateral movement 'but freely movable vertically andlongitudinally within predetermined limits when the mating contoursengage, said mating contours constituting the pressure transmittingmeans and sole means for releasably latching the unitary means in theframe. 7

6. The combination called for in claim 5 in which said mating contoursinclude flange and groove convolutions supporting the second member inguided relationship upon said first member against relative lateraldisplacement of the said second and first members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSPriesmeyer Apr. 19, 1955

